Lists, you want lists, check out this blog.

The Executive Homemaker

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She has an awesome binder with a list of things to put in it with templates. It is all right there, no thought for you, just a bunch of things that would be nice to have. Things like a babysitter binder, life records, important phone numbers, etc. I highly recommend it.

How to find the SHE-lectrician inside you

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you have to know how much I love lists. Remember this post, and this one?


I've been doing a much-needed, top-to-bottom deep clean of my house, and I'm on the last page of my 3-page checklist room by room. Of course, now that the deep clean is about done, it's time to, well, clean the house again. At least now when I clean my house, I'll know that there are no dust bunnies under the bed, the windows are shiny and the nooks and crannies are free from clutter and crud. Boy it feels nice to check see a page full of check marks.

Another running list I have is a prioritization of home improvement projects. Some are large, some are small. Some are cost- and time-prohibitive for the time being, and others are manageable. A while ago I painted my living room the loveliest shade of Winter in Paris, and yesterday I painted our master bedroom a calm and warm Toasted Almond. I didn't like the look of putting the old 80's beige outlets back up, so I decided to replace them all. And why shouldn't I be able to do it myself? So, here's a little how-to if you want to do a little, quick, inexpensive but noticeable upgrade to your home. First a few rules in the form of a list, of course!

Rule #1 - Don't be afraid. Electricity is your friend. But you MUST respect it and do lots of double checking for safety's sake (trust me - it only took me two times of getting a mini-tazer by a light switch before I started double checking).

Rule #2 - Be sure the breaker is turned off for the area you're working on. Even if nothing is turned on or plugged in, there's still juice running to them. In our house, we do this by me flipping breakers in the garage and hubby giving a holler when the lights are out. Which leads to...

Rule #3 - Obvious to all you smart readers, do your work during the day since the lights will be out. It's kind of hard to work on electricity at night.

OK, ready to start?

Here's the before - we're working on a double light switch.

Here's all you need. Replacement switches, cover plate, screwdriver and wire cutter/stripper.

Remove the cover plate with your screwdriver, and take out the screws on the top and bottom of each switch.

Pull it out from the wall so you can access the back of the switch.

It's easiest to just cut the wires where they go into the switch and use your cutters to strip about a 1/2" of the black or white covering off to expose the copper wire, like this:

You have two choices on how you want to attach the wires to the switch. In the photo below, you'll see two sets of a tiny round hole above a slot. You can simply thread your wire in the round hole, and a little metal piece inside holds it secure. There are either indications directly on the switch or else in the directions on the package on where to put the white (neutral) and where to put the black (hot). This is super important, like putting your car jumper cables on the right knobs!

That's they way I've done all of our switches and outlets, but I thought I'd show the other way to connect too. There is a screw on the side for each of the black and white wires. Curve the end of your wire, hook it around the screw, and tighten it with your screwdriver so it's and secure. That's it! The hard part's done, even though that wasn't hard at all, right?



Bundle up all the slack in the wire and stuff it back into the wall. Screw the switches back into place via the same screw holes that are already there. There's a "top" label to make sure you don't install it upside down.


Wallah! You're done! And doesn't that look so much better?


An outlet is done the same way, but there will be a bare copper wire (without black or white covering) that is the grounding wire. Curve it and wrap it around the grounding screw (usually green) as part of the connecting process.

You did it! Replacing 5 outlets and two light switches cost me $16.72, an hour of my time and...

one broken fingernail!

#175: Jeans that fit.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

or, in other words:

When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings; name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Once up on a time, I decided to take up a challenge to make and keep a list of 1,000 things for which I am grateful.

That was almost 10 years ago. At first it was easy; I managed to think of 99 specific blessings on that first day. Almost a decade later, I'm only on blessing #187. I add to it here and there, sometimes I duplicate, and I know there are about a billion blessings in my life that I'm not even aware of. I'm still a long way from recognizing a mere 1,000. But I have to tell you, this little list is precious. Sometimes I pick up my list when I want to add to it, sometimes just for fun, and sometimes when I need a tangible reminder of the abundance that surrounds me.

When I take a moment and read over just these few things I'm grateful for, it's definitely overwhelming, from mustard (#148) all the way to my children (#s 100 and 184). And overwhelming gratitude is just about the best feeling ever don't you think? (Oh! That's going to be #188!)

Breaking It Down...Jenni Style

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Having a home of my very own is a huge blessing and I am super grateful for it's ability to keep me and my family dry, safe and warm but enjoying it's beauty and charm can only happen if I am keeping up on the mountains of work that go into creating that pleasant cozy atmosphere.  Having a spotless home while taking care of little people and trying to cook meals, teach lessons, be around for a husband, fulfill callings, be there for neighbors, and find some time for myself can be pretty overwhelming sometimes.  After living here for a year now I believe I am beginning to get the hang of being okay with a little mess and learning to use my time better.

   

I use to be able to clean my entire apartment, top to bottom, in just 3 hours.  Now, I am lucky to get a room done in that time. Especially with kids wanting to be played with and interruptions from the computer.

Tonight I have broken it down for you cute readers.  Here are 3 lists for you to keep on your fridge.Whether you have a minute to do a little something or you have an hour or two, you will be surprised at how little time it can take to keep a semi orderly home.

A minute or less to complete:

Wipe crumbs off the kitchen table 

Water your plants

Empty a few trash cans

Wipe spots off a mirror

Clean a toilet

Sweep off the front porch

Dust a small room

Vacuum a rug

Clean out your kitchen trash can

Put your shoes away

Put a load of laundry in

Make a bed

Put the couch back together

Wipe down the bathroom sink

Open your fridge and remove gross things

Wipe down your counters

Open your blinds

Collect the dirty clothes

Throw out the junk mail

Shake out the welcome mat

Start the dishwasher

Get something on other then your cutest jammies (I add this because sometimes I put this one off)

Clean off a highchair or toddler's chair 

If you have 10-20 minutes you can do something like this:

Clean a bathroom floor

Dust the bookshelves

Wipe the spots on your couch

Unload the dishwasher

Sweep your hard floor surfaces

Clean your microwave

Wash the window above your kitchen sink inside and out

Clean your dripper pans

Get rid of the stuff hanging out in your couch.

Wipe down dining room chairs

Vacuum the stairs

Pick up all the toys

Clean the tub

File your stack of papers that you know you have sitting on your kitchen counter

Load the dishwasher

Go dump all the trash in your car.

Clear off your bathroom counter and wipe down the sink

Fold a load of laundry and put it away

An hour or more:

Spot clean some carpet

Organize a closet

Baseboards

Wash windows inside and out

Organize the pantry

Write up a menu and shoping list for the week

Give your car a nice shine

Weed the front and back yard

Mow the lawn

Deep clean a bedroom

If it's anything like my shower it will take at least an hour

Wipe some walls down

Go through the toy box and put things back together

Clear up everything

Go through everyone's clothing and make a donate pile

Take a bath (that's cleaning right?)

This is obviously not everything that needs to be done around a house but it is a good indication of what you can get done in the time you have.  It may feel choppy and out of order but it keeps me from sitting on the couch and watching something dumb. If I only have a precious 30 minutes to spare I know I have enough time to make the room I am in more enjoyable.  Try it out and let me know how it goes.  Happy cleaning!